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This April was among the top five warmest on record in Iowa. That’s according to preliminary data from the department of agriculture. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says much of Iowa was affected by west and southwest jet streams. He says this helps bring warm air in, and prevents colder air from descending from the north. Hillaker says the statewide rainfall average was slightly above normal, but a two week stretch of warm, windy weather allowed things to dry out very rapidly.